asked the Minister for Agriculture (a) if a subsidy is being currently paid by An Bord Bainne to exporters of chocolate crumb and, if not, why it has been stopped; (b) if this subsidy is part of the AngloIrish sugar agreement; and (c) if this matter is at present the subject of a Government inquiry and, if so, by whom it is being carried out.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Subsidy on Chocolate Crumb Exports.
51.
The payment by An Bord Bainne of a subsidy on exports of chocolate crumb was suspended last August. I understand that the Board has arranged for a full investigation of the position in the light of the effects of the increase in the world price of sugar.
The answer to parts (b) and (c) of the question is in the negative.
Is it true to say that chocolate crumb exporters have got a subsidy of £600,000, at a time when the price of milk to the farmers was reduced by three-eights of a penny and when they could not get a halfpenny increase?
I do not think that would be true. What I have indicated to the Deputy is that because of the change in the world prices of sugar, the question arose as to whether any further subsidy on chocolate crumb should be payable. The Board and the manufacturers have arranged to have that matter investigated under agreed terms of reference. They will make a report and on the basis of that report, the State's attitude towards the payment of a subsidy will be determined.
Might I ask who is conducting the investigation?
I have said that An Bord Bainne and the manufacturers are making it.
When the Minister says that an investigation is being made by An Bord Bainne and the manufacturers, I take it that all the manufacturers are not going to sit down with all the members of the Board. How is the inquiry being conducted?
Each interested party has appointed a firm of auditors.
Could the Minister tell us who the auditors are?
The auditors for Bord Bainne are Messrs Kennedy, Crowley, and the firm for the manufacturers are Messrs Haughey and Boland.